Smoot's Nobel Discovery Featured on Website

Cosmic microwave background

The most recent ScienceMatters@ Berkeley, a periodic online publication produced by the campus's College of Letters and Science, includes an article on Berkeley Lab physicist George Smoot's Nobel-Prize winning discovery of how the universe is structured. Smoot describes how he measured temperature differences in the cosmic microwave background with a satellite to help develop his groundbreaking research. "The technical challenges were extremely high," says Smoot, also a professor of physics at UC Berkeley. "We were looking for a signal that varied by just a hundred thousandth of a degree." Full story.

Meeting on Higher Ed
Leadership for Women

The American Council on Education/Office of Women in Higher Education/Northern California are sponsoring a daylong symposium on "Women Working With Women: Along the Path to Leadership in Higher Education" on Monday, May 7 in San Francisco. The event is geared toward faculty women interested in administrative leadership and supporting women in their rise to leadership positions. Go here for registration information.

Required Cyber Security Training Now Available

The 2007 edition of Computer Security Annual Refresher Training is now online. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete and covers important cyber security topics like social engineering and phishing. The course is mandatory for all Lab employees with computer access, and is encouraged, but not required, for participating guests. To take the course, go here. For assistance, contact the IT Help Desk (x4357).

Space & Science Center Looking for Volunteers

Chabot observatory

The Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland is currently seeking volunteers to assist with its various programs, including exhibits, school tours, classrooms and labs, telescopes, outreach, and administrative support. Volunteers get a 30 percent discount on gift shop merchandise, free planetarium shows, and discounted workshops, among other benefits. More information on volunteering is available here.